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In the Interest of A.K. and A.K., Minor Children
M.B., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Elizabeth K. Elsten
Attorney for Appellee State
Natalie Hedberg, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Debra S. De Jong
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Plymouth County, Daniel P. Vakulskas, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., Buller, J., and Potterfield, S.J. Opinion by Potterfield, S.J. (5 pages)
The juvenile court terminated the mother’s parental rights to two of her children under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(e) and (f) (2023). The mother challenges the statutory grounds for termination, claims the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services failed to make reasonable efforts to reunify her with the children, and argues the loss of her parental rights is not the in the children’s best interests. In the alternative, she asks for more time to work toward reunification. OPINION HOLDS: The mother did not preserve her reasonable-efforts claim. Because the State proved the ground for termination under section 232.116(1)(f), permanency through adoption is in the children’s best interests, and additional time is not warranted here, we affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights.
